Dispensing container for shortening or the like



Sept. 20, 1966 H. E. FRANKENBERG 3,273,608

DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR SHORTENING OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 16, 19s: 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HENRY E. FRPNKENBERG P 1966 H. E. FRANKENBERG3,273,603

DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR SHORTENING OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 16, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HENQY E. FRANKENBERG ATTORNEY$ United StatesPatent 3,273,608 DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR SHORTENING OR THE LIKE HenryE. Frankenberg, Berwyn, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc.,New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No.331,016 15 Claims. (Cl. 14127) The invention relates generally tocontainer structures, and more particularly to containers havingprovision for the packaging and dispensing of fill, and it primarilyseeks to provide a novel form of container for the packaging anddispensing of a fill in the nature of shortening or comparable viscousmasses.

Container Structures designed for the pack-aging of shortening have beenprovided heretofore, but such known structures have not been entirelysatisfactory because of the difiiculties experienced in removing filltherefrom, especially in measured quantities. It is a purpose of thepresent invention to provide a novel form of dispensing containerwherein dispensing difiiculties found objectionable in prior knowncontainers are avoided.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel dispensing containerfor fill such as shortening and including a body, a top closure, adispensing follower slidably mounted in the body and adapted to engageover fill beneath the top closure and having a dispensing opening therethrough so that upon removal of the top closure on a filled containerand application of pressure downward on the follower the latter willpress downward on the fill and force some thereof upward-1y through theopening, the follower having means thereon for measuring quantities offill thus displaced upwardly through the follower opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure ofthe character stated wherein the measuring means is in the form of acup-like receiving chamber removably mounted on the dispensing followerand having thereon means for discharging therefrom a measured quantityof fill after removal of the chamber from the follower.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure ofthe character stated wherein the means for discharging the measuredquantity of fill from the measuring chamber comprises a follower topslidably mounted in said chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container structure ofthe character state-d wherein the removable mounting of the measuringohamfber on the dispensing follower comprises an upstanding flangedefining the dispensing opening and over which the receiving chamber istelescoped and over which the open bottom of the chamber can be engagedto shape up the measured fill removed with the measuring chamber priorto the discharging of the measured quantity of fill from the chamher 'byprojection of the follower top therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a containerstructure of the character stated wherein the container top closureincludes a central raised portion into which the measuring means extendsprior to initial removal of said top closure from a filled container.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a container structureembodying the invention, the dispensing follower and measuring cup beingshown in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the container of FIGURE 1 withits top closure removed by use of a conventional opener to reveal theunderlying dispensing follower and measuring cup.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section taken on theline 3-3 on FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 on FIGURE3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, the dispensing follower beingshown as depressed from its initial FIGURE 3 position to receive ameasured quantity of fill upwardly into the measuring cup.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating the filled measuring cup ofFIGURE 5 in the process of being manipulated over the follower flange.

FIGURE 7 is a detail perspective view illustrating the measuring cupwith a measured charge of fill therein, a discharging of the fil l bydownward movement of the dispensing follower top of the cup being shown.

FIGURE 8 is a detail vertical cross section taken 'on the line 88 onFIGURE 7.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, theimproved container structure includes the usual can body 5 with itsbottom 6 secured thereon by a conventional seam 7 and its top closure 8secured thereon by a conventional seam 9. It is to be noted that the topclosure includes a central raised portion 10.

The enclosed fill of shortening or the like is indicated at 11 andthereover is placed the slidable follower or dispensing disk 12. Thedisk includes an upstanding perip'h eral flange 13 which is slide-guidedin the can body 5, and when the container structure includes :a sideseam the disk is notched or recessed at -14 to clear the side seam inthe manner indicated in FIGURE 4. The central portion of the fol-lowerdisk is dished at 15 and has a large dispensing opening 16 thereindefined by an upstanding flange '17.

It will be apparent by reference to FIGURE-S 3 and 5 of the drawingsthat the follower or dispensing disk flange 17 is disposed totelescopically receive the lower end of an inverted cup-like meansdesigned to measure quantities of fill displaced upwardly thereintothrough the opening 16. The measuring means comprises a generallycylindrical chamber 18 in which a dispensing follower disk 19 isslidably mounted between upper and lower stop limits. The upper stopmeans takes the form of an inwardly directed fiange 20 at the top of thecylinder 18, and the lower stop means takes the form of an inwardlydirected flange 21 at the bottom of the cylinder. It will be apparentthat the upper flange limits the movement of the dispensing disk 19 tothe position illustrated in FIGURE 5, and the lower flange 21 which isof more limited inward projection serves to prevent inadvertentdisplacement of the disk downwardly through the open bottom of themeasuring chamber. It is to be understood, however, that the disk 19 maybe snapped down through the bottom limit flange 21 whenever it is theintent to separate the disk from the cylinder 18.

It will be apparent by reference to FIGURES '3, 4, 7 and 8 that themeasuring means cylinder 18 is equipped with a plurality ofequidistantly spaced, inwardly projecting ribs 22. These ribs engage inclearances or recesses 23 provided in the peripheral edge of thedispensing or follower disk 19 and serve to guide movement of the diskas it slides upwardly or downwardly in the measuring chamber cylinder18.

It will be apparent by reference to FIGURES 1 and 3 of the drawings thatwhen the container structure or package including the fill -11 is in itsinitially marketed condition the upper extremity of the cup-likemeasuring means 18, 19 projects into the upwardly extended chamber ofthe container provided by the raised portion 10 of the top closure 8.When it is desired to dispense fill from the container, the top closure'8 is removed by cutting the same away in conventional manner, as byapplying any approved form of can opening mechanism as indicated at 25in FIGURES 2, 3, and 6. By now pressing downward on the follower ordispenser disk 12, the follower will be caused to press downward on thefill 11 and force some thereof upwardly through the opening 16 and intothe cup-like receiving chamber telescopically mounted on the followerdisk. .As the fill is forced upwardly Within the measuring meanscylinder 18, the dispensing disk 19 will rise until its movement islimited by the upper stop flange 20. The measuring chamber can then beremoved with the measured charge of fill therein and moved about overthe upstanding disk flange 17 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6,thereby to shape up the measured quantity of fill removed with themeasuring chamber by scraping off any excess fill which may tend tocling to the measured mass, thus to provide a smooth bottom measuredcharge of fill as indicated in FIGURES 7 and *8. By now pressingdownwardly on the dispensing disk 19, the measured charge can bedispensed from the measuring chamber in the manner clearly illustratedby the arrows on FIGURES 7 and 8. In this process, the lower stop flange21 'will prevent inadvertent projection of the disk 19 out of thechamber cylinder 18 in which it is intended to operate.

While a container structure of conventional side seam and top closureform is illustrated herein, it is to be understood that containersembodying the invention may be of the type including the well knowncollars and tear strips providing for reclosure, or the now popularplastic overcap may be employed as a reclosure means. It is to beunderstood also that other forms of container structures devoid of sideseams may be employed.

While an example form of the novel concept is disclosed herein, it is tobe understood that modification of part structure an arrangement may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self-contained dispensing container for fill such as shortening orthe like comprising a body, a top closure, and a dispensing followerslidably mounted in the body and adapted to engage over fill beneathsaid top closure and having a dispensing opening therethrough so thatupon removal of the top closure on a filled container and application ofpressure downward on said follower the follower will press downward onthe fill and force some thereof upwardly through the opening, saidfollower having means therein entirely in underlying relation to saidclosure, for measuring quantities of fill thus displaced upwardlythrough the follower opening.

2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the measuring meanscomprises an inverted cup-like receiving chamber removably mounted onthe follower over its dispensing opening to receive a measured quantityof follower displaced fill therein.

3. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the measuring meanscomprises an inverted cup-like receiving chamber removably mounted onthe follower over its dispensing opening to receive a measured quantityof 01- lower displaced fill therein, said chamber having a generallycylindrical body and a top in the form of a follower slidable in thechamber body so that it will be displaced upwardly by fill being forcedupwardly through the dispensing follower opening and after removal ofthe measuring means from the dispensing follower may be forceddownwardly in the chamber body to discharge therefrom the quantity offill measured within the chamber body beneath said slidable top.

4. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the measuring meanscomprises an inverted cup-like receiving chamber removably mounted onthe follower over its distherefrom the quantity of fill measured withinthe chamher body beneath said slid-able top, said chamber body includingspaced upper and lower stop means between which the slidable top ismovable and serving to limit movement of said slidable top and preventinadvertent removal thereof from the chamber body.

5. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the measuring meanscomprises an inverted cup-like receiving chamber removably mounted onthe follower over its dispensing opening to receive a measured quantityof follower displaced fill therein, said chamber having a generallycylindrical body and a top in the form of a follower slidable in thechamber body so that it will be displaced upwardly by fill being forcedupwardly through the dispensing follower opening and after removal ofthe measuring means from the dispensing follower may be forceddownwardly in the chamber body to discharge therefrom the quantity offill measured within the chamber body beneath said slidable top, saidchamber body and slidable chamber top having cooperating rib andclearance means for guiding sliding movement of the slidable top in thechamber body.

6. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the measuring meanscomprises an inverted cup-like receiving chamber removably mounted onthe follower over its dispensing opening to receive a measured quantityof follower displaced fill therein, said chamber having a generallycylindrical body and a top in the form of a follower slidable in thechamber body so that it will be displaced upwardly by fill being forcedupwardly through the dispensing follower opening and after removal ofthe measuring means from the dispensing follower may be forceddownwardly in the chamber body to discharge therefrom the quantity offill measured within the chamber body beneath said slidable top, saidchamber body including spaced upper and lower stop means between whichthe slidable top is movable and serving to limit movement of saidslidable top and prevent inadvertent removal thereof from the chamberbody, said chamber body having guide ribs therein extending between saidupper and lower st-op means and cooperating with clearances in theslidable top in guiding sliding movement of the slidable top in thechamber body.

7. A container as defined in claim 5 wherein the removable mounting ofthe measuring chamber comprises an upstanding flange defining thedispensing opening on the dispensing follower and over which thecylindrical body of said chamber is telescoped.

8. A container as defined in claim 6 wherein the removable mounting ofthe measuring chamber comprises an upstanding flange defining thedispensing opening on the dispensing follower and over which thecylindrical body of said chamber is telescoped.

9. A container as defined in claim 5 wherein the removable mounting ofthe measuring chamber comprises an upstanding flange defining thedispensing opening on the dispensing follower and over which thecylindrical body of said chamber is telescoped, said chamber bodyincluding an outwardly extending gripping flange engageable by a hand ofa user of the container and serving to facilitate manipulation of themeasuring chamber while lifting it off the dispensing follower andengaging the open bottom of the chamber over the dispensing followerflange in shaping up the measured quantity of fill removed with thechamber.

10. A container as defined in claim 6 wherein the removable mounting ofthe measuring chamber comprises an upstanding flange defining thedispensing opening on the dispensing follower and over which thecylindrical body of said chamber is telescoped, said chamber bodyincluding an outwardly extending gripping flange engageable by a hand ofa user of the container and serving to facilitate manipulation of themeasuring chamber while lifting it off the dispensing follower andengaging the open bottom of the chamber over the dispensing followerflange in shaping up the measured quantity of fill removed with thechamber.

11. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the container top closureincludes a central raised portion into which the measuring means extendsprior to initial removal of said container top closure from a filledcontainer.

12. A container as defined in claim 6 wherein the removable mounting ofthe measuring chamber compises an upstanding flange defining thedispensing opening on the dispensing follower and over which thecylindrical body of said chamber is telescoped, said chamber bodyincluding an outwardly extending gripping flange engageable by a hand ofa user of the container and serving to facilitate manipulation of themeasuring chamber while lifting it ofi' the dispensing follower andengaging the open bottom of the chamber over the dispensing followerflange in shaping up the measured quantity of fill removed with thechamber, and wherein the container top closure includes a central raisedportion into which the measuring means extends prior to initial removalof said container top closure from a filled container.

13. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispensing follower isequipped with an upstanding flange defining its dispensing opening andsurrounded by a dished annulus which is in turn surrounded by a flatannulus disposed at a level no higher than the level at which the upperextremity of said flange is disposed, and wherein the measuring meanscomprises an inverted cup-like receiving chamber having an open lowerend removably telescoped over said upstanding flange to receive filldisplaced upwardly thereinto through the dispensing folagainstunderlying fill.

14. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispensing follower isequipped with an upstanding flange defining its dispensing opening andsurrounded by a dished annulus which is in turn surrounded by a flatannulus disposed at a level no higher than the level at which the upperextremity of said flange is disposed, and wherein the measuring meanscomprising an inverted cuplike receiving chamber having an open lowerend removably telescoped over said upstanding flange to receive filldisplaced upwardly thereinto through the dispensing follower openingupon downward movement of said follower against underlying fill, saidchamber having a generally cylindrical body and a top in the form of afollower slidable in the chamber body so that it will be displacedupwardly by fill being forced upwardly through the dispensing followeropening and after removal of the measuring means from the dispensingfollower may be forced downwardly in the chamber body to dischargetherefrom the quantity of fill measured withinn the chamber body beneathsaid slidable top.

15. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispensing follower isequipped with an upstanding flange defining its dispensing opening andsurrounded by a dished annulus which is in turn surrounded by a flatannulus disposed at a level no higher than the level at which the upperextremity of said flange is disposed, and wherein the measuring meanscomprising an inverted cup-like receiving chamber having an open lowerend removably telescoped over said upstanding flange to receive filldisplaced upwardly thereinto through the dispensing follower openingupon downward movement of said follower against underlying fill, saidchamber having a generally cylindrical body and a top in the form of afollower slidable in the chamber body so that it will be displacedupwardly by fill being forced upwardly through the dispensing followeropening and after removal of the measuring means from the dispensingfollower may be forced downwardly in the chamber body to dischargetherefrom the quantity of fill measured within the chamber body heneathsaid slidable top, said chamber body including spaced upper and lowerstop means between which the slidable top is movable and serving tolimit movement of said slidable top and prevent inadvertent removalthereof from the chamber body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,057,874 10/1936Barks et a1. 222259 X 2,393,217 1/ 1946 Brewton 14l27 X 2,443,981 6/1948Funk et al. l4ll8 X 2,726,802 12/1955 Jones 14l--l8 X LAVERNE D. GEIGER,Primary Examiner.

H. BELL, Assistant Examiner,

1. A SELF-CONTAINED DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR FILL SUCH AS SHORTENING ORTHE LIKE COMPRISING A BODY, A TOP CLOSURE AND A DISPENSING FOLLOWERSLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE BODY AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE OVER FILL BENEATHSAID STOP CLOSURE AND HAVING A DISPENSING OPENING THERETHROUGH SO THATUPON REMOVAL OF THE TOP CLOSURE ON A FILLED CONTAINER AND APPLICATION OFPRESSURE DOWNWARD ON SAID FOLLOWER THE FOLLOWER WILL PRESS DOWNWARD ONTHE FILL AND FORCE SOME THEREOF UPWARDLY THROUGH THE OPENING, SAIDFOLLOWER HAVING MEANS THEREIN ENTIRELY IN UNDERLYING RELATION TO SAIDCLOSURE, FOR MEASURING QUANTITIES OF FILL THUS DISPLACED UPWARDLYTHROUGH THE FOLLOWER OPENING.